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Pilates Mamas
Written By: Ashby Underwood - Yoga Highlands | Issue: December - 2022
The demands of motherhood are a challenge to women on the physical, mental, and emotional planes.
Ashby Underwood-Garner
Attention Mamas at Any Age: Giving birth is a selfless physical act.
Mothers for life, our children stay with us even once they are out in the world. We carry them, at first more physically, then emotionally, mentally, and even energetically through “mother’s intuition.”
Birthing is often a lived traumatic experience to a woman’s body with a joyful end. The toll can be lasting as we may not have time for healing fully. We bound into action in service to a vulnerable baby. With both of our sons, I recall my instinctual response time to each cry, giggle, need, and milestone. Mothers transmit our courage and our fears, our disappointments, and our praise.
When a child becomes the center of our world, how do we keep our personal sense of “center?” Postural stability is key. Holding a baby close, shoulders rounding forward, will challenge the muscles in the upper back to become fatigued, tight and knotted up. The belly wall, which is already stretched from the baby growing inside, needs a sensitive approach to regain strength.
Mamas who have birthed through a Cesarean Section can have scar tissue that over time can pull hips out of alignment or create pelvic floor strain. The hormonal impulse which softens the ligaments of the pelvis for birth, is immediately followed by carrying extra weight and the constant shifting of the physical realities of mothering.
Diastasis Recti is a common split in the mid-abdominal wall in women and men. This gap between the vertical muscles of the abdominal core can be felt with your fingers. Diastasis Recti can cause back pain and sciatic pain – common conundrums that therapies such as Massage, Chiropractic and Yoga seek to address sometimes years later. However, training on our Pilates Reformer creates immediate tone and re-weaving of the supporting belly muscles.
In my studio I use sensory feedback and specific exercises, guiding a person to maintain ease and connection throughout the session. Once you gain the understanding of your unique pattern, you will have the knowledge to heal yourself.
How long does it take for a body to come back into shape? Momentum grows when you can stand up with ease and exercise becomes a pleasure. When you can complete your day with energy to spare, you are on your way.
